Good morning from Niseko, which seems to be - and almost certainly is - getting busier by the day. There's an atmosphere building... and it's a good one!

Before I get onto the main report, and lots to report this morning, if you haven't already heard the Niseko Hanazono folk are participating in the SnowJapan Prize Draw. There are 10 Niseko All Mountain lift tickets to win from SnowJapan this season - along with a whopping 390 others from resorts around Japan to win.

Full details and how to enter here:

http://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/lift-ticket-prize-draw

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25cm of fresh snow to report again this morning, and another very cold start to the day. It's well down below zero. Brrr, as they say. Or perhaps we should say 'samui'.

Conditions should be excellent, and with snow forecast to continue falling conditions should remain so.

Night skiing (nighta) on the mountain starts from today of course, and I have added info on which lifts are planned to be open below.

Niseko Grand Hirafu also open their Free Ride Park today, which can be found next to the King Number 1 Pair lift, and also the Hirafu Kids Snow Park.

It's still early season of course so all of these things may not be in full swing just yet, but good to see things opening up.

Large parts of the mountain are now open so we're nearly there...

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Niseko Avalanche Report

Niseko base 6am: -6C, 15cm of crystal snow. Calm morning with no development of snowdrifts. Moiwa 600m: -7C, 20cm and light development of snowdrifts. Coastal data: NW16m/s at Benkei cape. Anupuri 1000m: -10C, 1.2m snowpack, light snow. Peak data not available.

Light snowfall and mild wind has continued under moderate winter weather pattern. Out of bounds area is still full of small trees and sasa-bamboo and not ready for riding. Still a few dumps needed. Gates will be kept closed for a while.
Slides from Dec 10th layer are to be expected in steep spots under lift-lines. A small avalanche can easily bury a person at the bottom. Please do not ski under the lifts.
Beware of hitting trees and ruin the season.
Streams are still not fully buried, be careful not to fall in and freeze.
This information is made for the safety of all resort users.
The snow is excellent today.

(Many thanks as always to the Niseko Avalanche folk producing the reports each season; published with permission)

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Here's what is planned to be open today (subject to change):

Niseko Grand Hirafu
Courses:
Family Course, Sen-no-ki, Alpen, Detour for Beginners, Green, Onsenzawa, Center, Shirakaba, Kokutai, Kogen, Ni-Kabe, Jumbo, Parallel, Rinkan, Setsuzoku, Jumbo, Parallel, Holiday
Lifts:
Ace Family Lift, Ace Number 2 Center Four lift, Ace Number 3 lift, Holiday Number 1 Pair lift, Hirafu Gondola, King Number 3 Triple lift, Swinging Monkey.
Night skiing lifts:
Ace Family Pair lift, Ace Number 2 Center Four lift, Hirafu Gondola, Holiday Number 1 Pair lift

Niseko Hanazono
Courses: Stairway to Heaven, Silver Dream, Legend of Shinya, Yotei Sunset, Crystal Garden
Lifts: All 3 quad lifts operating
Night skiing lifts: No night skiing at Hanazono

Niseko Village
Courses:
Final Fling, Shaky Knees, Next Stage, Banzai, Cruiser, Don't Blink, beginners course from Gondola, Junkyard, Namara (part ungroomed), Jagaimo (ungroomed), Misoshiru (ungroomed)
Lifts:
Niseko Gondola, Community Chair, Banzai Chair
Night skiing lifts:
Community Chair and Banzai Chair until 8pm.

Niseko Annupuri
Courses:
Paradise, Family, Challenge, Marchen, Dynamic, Junior, Utopia, Shirakaba, Silver (9 out of 13 courses open)
Lifts:
Annupuri Gondola, Jumbo Number 1 Quad, Jumbo Number 2 Pair, Jumbo Number 3 Pair

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Official snow depth numbers at the time of writing:

Grand Hirafu / Hanazono:
Top - 170cm
Base - 100cm

Niseko Village:
Top - 100cm
Base - 70cm

Annupuri:
Top - 130cm
Base - 90cm

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Niseko Grand Hirafu 6 day weather and snow forecast